Category Archives: Comics

V. reviews Wonder Woman #20 and Fatale #14

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Wonder Woman has been on my pull list for seven years straight. After reading Wonder Woman #20, I dropped it.

I don’t mention it in my review, but Diana was in only 8 of the 20 pages in this issue and she didn’t even make an appearance until page 5. When she does appear, her thunder is stolen almost as quickly as it appears.

I swear Brian Azzarello is mocking Wonder Woman fans.

I imagine him reading the bad reviews and angry tweets while stroking his beard and laughing maniacally. “You wanna talk shit about  me, eh? Watch what I do to your beloved princess.”

The thing is … Azzarello has done very little with the character apart from having her slapped on the ass. Rucka’s Wonder Woman would have never been slapped on the ass.

My character loyalty has continued the support of this book for about a year too long. I refuse to endure another month of disappointment especially when there are many other female-led comics that are better.

Fatale is one of them. I reviewed that too.

Now Read This: Action Lab’s Molly Danger

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Of all the comics I scored on Free Comic Book Day – and there were many – the one I truly couldn’t wait to read was Action Lab Comics’ Molly Danger from Jamal Igle, featuring G3 favorite Princeless written by Jeremy Whitley. It combines several things that comics could use more of these days. It’s an endlessly fun book that’s exciting and appropriate for kids without being condescending, and it puts strong, smart, spirited girls front and center. There’s a joy in Igle’s narrative and gorgeously detailed art that serves as a very welcome contrast to the darkness that sometimes overwhelms comic books. Whitley’s “Girls Who Fight Boys” story, starring plucky heroines Adrienne and Bedelia from the much-celebrated Princeless, is a perfect companion.

If you missed this delightful FCBD offering, don’t fret. Action Lab Comics graciously shared the issue with G3, and you can read it right here. Enjoy!

V. reviews The Movement #1

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The Movement #1I was so excited to read Gail Simone’s latest addition to the DC line-up, The Movement. I heard her say that it’s probably the most diversity in a DC comic … like ever. And not just racial diversity; The Movement will tout diverse perspectives, lifestyles, politics and beliefs. Hera knows the heteronormative world of mainstream comics needs some variation in perspective. I certainly have a strong desire for it in comics (and elsewhere).

The Movement #1 was not as strong of a first issue as I had hoped, but then I wonder if my expectations were unrealistically high. Were they high because I think Gail is a wonderful storyteller or because I want this book to beget more books like it thus prematurely placing it on a pedestal?  Or maybe … it just wasn’t a great first issue. Either way, you can read my full review here.

Have you read it? What do you think? Do you agree or disagree with my review?

Gold, Guts and Grog: Introducing Rat Queens

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One of the many announcements rolling out of C2E2 this weekend is the new project we teased here a couple of weeks ago by Peter Panzerfaust writer Kurtis Wiebe and artist Roc Upchurch. The title of the series is Rat Queens and it will be published by Image Comics’ Shadowline imprint.

“Rat Queens will follow the exploits of four monster-hunting women whose love of partying is outweighed only by their love of exacting sweet, brutal revenge on their enemies.”

Sounds fun, right?

I have got a five-page preview below that says just that. But first, I had a chance to ask the writer, Kurtis Wiebe, a few questions. Continue reading →

WTF? Wednesday: Cruel to Be Kind

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When it comes to receiving soul-crushing messages about weight, most women are pretty well covered, thanks. But in 1979, Charlton Comics decided that some of us weren’t paying attention. Described as the low-rent district of comics publishing, Charlton packed so much sexist, body-shaming hostility into a single story in Secret Romance #44 that it made even the most regressive women’s magazine look like Ms.

The story’s title is simply: “Fat!” Yes, with an exclamation point. Continue reading →

Comics You Should Be Reading: Spring 2013 Edition

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It is that time again!

It is the time when Lindsey, Erika and I do our civic duty and tell you fine folks which comics … YOU SHOULD BE READING.

As per usual, this list is by no means exhaustive. There are many, many beautiful pieces of sequential art out there. Alas, we are mere mortals. We have to sleep some time. That is why we invite YOU, our brilliant readers, to tell us if we missed anything in the comments section.

Without any further ado, we have got some titles from the Big Two, some from Image, Boom and Dark Horse AND we’ve got some from the far reaches of The Internet. Enjoy … and you’re welcome! Continue reading →

Goodbye For Now, Wonder Woman

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Wonder Woman welcomes you to my office.

Wonder Woman welcomes you to my office.

When people walk into my office for the first time, they immediately notice two things: My Beatles poster and a framed picture of Wonder Woman, illustrated by the incomparable George Perez, which occupies a place of honor on the bookshelf. She’s not just a character I’ve loved since childhood, but also a source of inspiration; a symbol of strength and inherent goodness. Wonder Woman is the reason I fell for superhero comics as a child, and I’ve been known to say that it would be a cold day in hell before I stopped buying her book.

That day arrived a few Wednesdays ago when I asked the owner of my LCS to drop Wonder Woman from my pull list. Continue reading →

Sneak Peek: New Project by Kurtis Wiebe & Roc Upchurch

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One of our first interviews here at G3 was with super-fresh artist John ‘Roc’ Upchurch. He was the talent behind my darling avatar. Since then, I have followed Roc’s art career because I think he’s great and deserves to be noticed. I was beyond excited when writer Kurtis Wiebe (Peter Panzerfaust, Green Wake, Grim Leaper) teased a new project that Roc will be drawing. I am quite looking forward to it.

While the official announcement hasn’t been made yet – you can catch the first two teasers here and here. I’ve got the third one below.

Meet Betty … Continue reading →

Talia al Ghul v. Lady Shiva

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Talia versus Shiva

There are many things that DC has been lacking these days, but the one that I lament over regularly is Lady Shiva. I made a point to read the issues of Nightwing where she made an appearance, and while she is portrayed as being plenty skilled … something about her is missing. There wasn’t enough exposition or cold-hearted philosophy of life that Gail Simone would write into the character. Also, that costume is atrocious.

For today’s versus fantasy, I imagine the Shiva of yore. Continue reading →

G3 Review: Sunday in the Park With Boys

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If you are familiar with Jane Mai already, you know that her comics are generally light-hearted and humorous with such telling titles as “Literal Poop Nightmare” and “Strippers.” For this reason it was briefly shocking to find the entirety of her full-length debut, Sunday in the Park with Boys, such a departure from what we have come to expect of her.

Published recently by Koyama Press, this 52-page black and white volume begins by transporting the reader to Jane’s past. There we find melancholy and malaise tinged with a desperation that only comes from the awareness that time may be moving on without you. Read on and see how she combats existential crises, depression, loneliness, and the weight of existence; all the expected traumas of youth. Continue reading →

Far from Riverdale: ‘Criminal – The Last of the Innocent’

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Criminal Last of the InnocentEd Brubaker and Sean Phillips’ Criminal: The Last of the Innocent has been described as the most messed up “Archie” reimagining ever published, and that assessment is catnip for readers who frequent Riverdale. But this widely praised arc, trade Vol. 6 in the Criminal noir series, is much more than an exercise in taking beloved archetypes to hell. Brubaker and Phillips have crafted a harrowing portrait of unhappy adulthood and the longing for youth’s fleeting golden moments. Continue reading →

Comic Judgment: Young Romance – The New 52 Valentine’s Day Special

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Supes and WondySuperheroes and anti-heroes lead complicated, over-the-top dramatic lives that inevitably wreak havoc on their relationships. No matter what that passionate lip-lock between Wonder Woman and Superman on the cover of Young Romance: The New 52 Valentine’s Day Special suggests — and enough already; we get it — the stories in this collection are not heavy on heart-fluttering moments and sexytime. Continue reading →

Comics You Should Be Reading: Winter 2013 Edition

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Happy New Comics Day, everyone!

The weather in our neck of the woods looks nothing like winter, but I am sure it is freezing somewhere. With that in mind, it was time again for the three of us to put our beautiful heads together and come up with a list of comics that we love the most. Right now.

This is by no means an exhaustive list. There is a sea of comic brilliance out there, but there are only so many hours in the day … even for three as comic book obsessed as us. The list may or may not change come spring. But today and in no particular order, these are the comics …. YOU should be reading. Continue reading →